Kate Bowler’s Bridge of Absurdity

Kate Bowler’s Bridge of Absurdity

From The Clearing with Katherine May by Katherine May

May 14, 2026 · 52 min · Season 8 · Episode 3

About this episode

Kate Bowler discusses finding joy and coping with life's absurdities with host Katherine May.

Kate Bowler is the multiple New York Times -bestselling author, professor of divinity and stage-four cancer survivor who has mastered the art of finding small delights in the everyday. No grand gestures for her.  In this wonderful conversation with Katherine, they talk about ‘how to cope’, the brittleness of time and why revelling in absurdity is really the answer to everything. A celebration of silliness, tattoos, the important differences between canoes and kayaks and the most beautifully realised depiction of precious time spent with a best friend. Links from the episode:  Kate’s new book Joyful Anyway Kate’s website where you can find her previous books https://katebowler.com/   Kate’s podcast Everything Happens Kate’s Instagram A Truce that is Not Peace by Miriam Toews  My Bright Abyss by Christian Wiman Canadian ice fishing cabins https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/portraits-canadas-ice-fishing-huts-180957794/   Visit The Clearing website www.theclearingpod.com for a full transcript, to discover how to enjoy our bonus episodes, our ad free episodes and if you subscribe, how to submit your own idea for a dream retreat Buy Katherine’s books…

People in this episode

Host: Katherine May

Guest: Kate Bowler

Topics covered

  • coping with cancer
  • finding joy
  • absurdity
  • friendship
  • self-improvement
  • everyday delights

Keywords

  • Kate Bowler
  • cancer survivor
  • joy
  • absurdity
  • friendship
  • self-improvement
  • everyday delights

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kate Bowler

Books & works: Joyful Anyway, Everything Happens, A Truce that is Not Peace, My Bright Abyss

Places: Canada, Acast

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